The 375 H&H, the greatest

[Pondoro]

.375H&H is by far the most versatile cartridge for big game.. By far the most african game I shot with my .375..up to and including elephant.

These are both ZKK 602´s.. Mine to the right.. I shot elephant with both these rifles.

 

[odonata]

There are only three cartridges that I have multiple rifles chambered in: 303 British, 30-06 and 375 H&H. In 375 H&H I have a Winchester 1885 Safari Octagon falling block & a left-handed Winchester Model 70 Safari Express which are both great rifles to shoot. My Ruger No. 1S in 9.3x74r is the closest I get to the OP's rifle & it is one of my all-time favorites. I'm a fan of the No. 1 (I own four) so I understand his enthusiasm.

 

[Luvthunt]

The great 375 HH needs no accolades it has been worshipped by many forever.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I simply have never understood the attraction for single shot big game rifles. I often hunt in adverse conditions (I actually prefer it). Reloading the magazine in -0° weather is not fun with a fat cartridge three shot twelve gauge. I can't imagine myself fumbling with reloading a No 1 for a followup shot on a fleeing elk in a snowstorm. If my PH put a No 1 in the truck for the morning's buffalo hunt, I would be returning to my room. Not sure I'd be terribly comfortable if he loaded up a double rifle. No 1 is an elegant rifle and handy for lefties. But I'm normal right-handed and far from elegant. For normal hunting and range work I prefer a cartridge that's not going to beat me up or my pocketbook. And a gun that can take a beating and fire fast if needed: 30-06 Springfield.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

as i have no desire to shoot a eli, a 375 h&h is fine for me and in a pinch it may even do that.

Definitely, you’ve got a keeper there. A 300Gr Cutting Edge Bullets Safari Solid can penetrate the skull of an adult African bull elephant from any angle.

 

[AZDAVE]

@WoodencrossIII Nice choice on a rifle for your hunts. The 375 isn't a stopping round in africa but with proper shot placement will take anything that walks. Like @Hunter-Habib said I would pass on body shot on elephant, I will also include there are better options for Hippo on land and rhino. Enjoy your #1 in such a classic round!

@Ontario Hunter You have found a platform (bolt) that works for you. not everyone understand the appeal and challenge of hunting with a single or double. That is the joy of free choice each individual can use what works for them and the only one that has to like it is that individual. All our brains are wired differently and have had different life experiences to draw on while making decisions.

 

[glblanchard]

375er, Yes, I have used it on cow elk. Absolutely flatten them with proper bullet placement.

 

[rookhawk]

The only thing missing from the 375HH to be "perfection" is a flimsy, all-copper 225gr bullet with a good BC. If one maker would invent it, the 375HH would be wholly ideal for deer and elk at "regular" distances also. I said copper simply because it has more volume and would allow a better BC than a lead core.

The day that gets invented, the 300 and 338 become irrelevant because a 375HH just covered all the bases.

 

[375er]

The only thing missing from the 375HH to be "perfection" is a flimsy, all-copper 225gr bullet with a good BC. If one maker would invent it, the 375HH would be wholly ideal for deer and elk at "regular" distances also. I said copper simply because it has more volume and would allow a better BC than a lead core.

The day that gets invented, the 300 and 338 become irrelevant because a 375HH just covered all the bases.

The CEB 235 grain Raptor should take care of your needs!

 

[Luger00]

.375 H&H is a wonderful cartridge.. The recoil is more like a push compared to the sharp jolt of the weatherby cartridges I'm used to.. Great round and it will kill anything that walks with proper bullet selection..

 

[Safari Dave]

Ok…I will be that guy and I own 4 375 H&H rifles. The 375 H&H is the “Jack of all trades and Master of none”.

HH

I resemble that remark.

 

[Higgy8]

I went out and did some shooting with my
Ruger No1 in 375h&h and I would say that it’s really in my opinion the greatest hunting rifle cartridge combo I’ve ever had. I have played with many different rifles and have hunted and killed plenty of game mostly deer and elk and coyotes. What I felt after shooting the rifle was this would be the only gun I’d ever need. The cartridge is completely capable and proven power to bullet weight ratio with the ability to go longer shots to close in is there and couple that with the rugged yet simplicity of the Ruger No1 with the ease of the action and manual of arms makes it my favorite rifle or near it. I’ve mostly always loved a bolt gun and have had many over the years and still have some hunting rifles like the 1917s and older enfield 303. Modern bolt actions are still nice but with the handling ease and beauty of the ruger I just feel complete if I could say that or content with this rifle. The recoil was not bad at all the power of that cartridge and the recoil level was balanced to me. If anyone were ever wondering if a 375 H&H in a Ruger No1 were a good option I’d say yes, I enjoy mine greatly.

I have a 375H&H Ruger No1B. It's not original, I had it re-barreled, from 243win, with a 28" / 1-10" twist/ .375 True Flite barrel. I've only shot re-loads in it and it shoots very well, especially with Woodleigh 350gr @ 2300fps. March/April 2024 I shot 4 Cape Buffalo with it in Bwabata West/Okavango River, Namibia, with no issues and humane quick kills. The last 2 weeks of the November this year, 2025, I'm taking it for leopard. This time shooting Speer 270gr spbt at 2650fps. I have also shot various African plains game and some elephant (body shots) with other 375H&H's. All with no issues and humane quick kills. In my opinion, the 375H&H works very well, for a client rifle. The Ruger No1 also works well, especially for plains game, but will not be everyone's cup of tea as a dangerous game rifle.

 

[jruby]

I have two 375 H&H. A Ruger #1 and a Sako L61R. I like shooting these two rifles but in the lower 48 I feel that there is nothing that needs this power of cartridge. To me there are better suited cartridges for North America. I will probably hunt elk someday with one of these.

 

[BryceM]

I spent an afternoon this week with an old Browning Safari rifle in .375 H&H and some hand loaded 300gr Swift A-Frames. I just smiled the whole time. It’s so incredibly fun to shoot. I have an elk hunt this fall, and I’m a little tempted to take it along. The custom .300 WM is the other possible choice. It’s wide-open desert country, so maybe the .300 will get the nod. We’ll see.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

The only thing missing from the 375HH to be "perfection" is a flimsy, all-copper 225gr bullet with a good BC. If one maker would invent it, the 375HH would be wholly ideal for deer and elk at "regular" distances also. I said copper simply because it has more volume and would allow a better BC than a lead core.

The day that gets invented, the 300 and 338 become irrelevant because a 375HH just covered all the bases.

I so agree with this.

 

[Warbeast]

.but that does take away the fun of having a lot of different guns with a lot of different calibers

Thats more of a burden then Fun

 

[375er]

Barnes makes the tsx in a 235 grain .375.

 

[1972RedNeck]

375er, Yes, I have used it on cow elk. Absolutely flatten them with proper bullet placement.

My 22-250 also flattens elk with proper shot placement...

 

[jruby]

My 22-250 also flattens elk with proper shot placement...

A 22-250 is not even a legal caliber here in Oregon for hunting elk.

 

[1972RedNeck]

A 22-250 is not even a legal caliber here in Oregon for hunting elk.

No restrictions here in MT. I know several people that use a 22-250 for elk. Head shot on an elk is an easy shot compared to a Richardson ground squirrel.

I personally prefer my 45-90 or 375 WBY.